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It was so hot in early July (an expected 109° on our regularly scheduled walking day) that many members decided not to walk the trails and stayed home with iced tea and A/C. But what about the birds? No ice makers or air conditioning for them! They are warm blooded just like us, and in fact, many of them have body temperatures that run up to 110°! Plus they are covered with feathers and they can't sweat. So how do they survive? It turns out that they change their behavior, just like us, to chill out. One of the best ways they use to stay cool is to get in the water. Birds enjoy puddles, streams, pools, misters, bird baths, and fountains. Our club leader, Gerrie, reported seeing an Allen's Hummingbird actually lie forward into her backyard fountain to get completely soaked. Birds also sleep in the hottest parts of the day, and forage in the cooler mornings, evenings, and nights. They seek out the shade of trees, plants, and buildings, and adults spread their wings to shelter their chicks. Like dogs, they sometimes pant, releasing heat and moisture through their mouths, and some birds like the owls and ravens we see on our trails, ruff le their neck muscles to open their skin to cool breezes. And of course, some birds like eagles can use the air currents to soar to cooler spots. Wading water birds are particularly lucky since their long thin legs without feathers release heat through the skin, and they can stand in water to make themselves even cooler. Gerrie Karczynski captured pictures of several water birds doing just that at nearby San Jacinto Wildlife Area. Please join us on the first Saturday of the month at 8 am at the Potrero Creek trailhead in The Lodge parking lot to see which birds are out and about and how they are dealing with the challenges of weather and nature. ~ Kathy Hull Our Book Club selection Aug. 13 is Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. Here is a brief description from Amazon.com: "Alas, Babylon. Those fateful words heralded the end. When the unthinkable nightmare of nuclear holocaust ravaged the United States, it was instant death for tens of millions of people; for survivors, it was a nightmare of hunger, sickness, and brutality. Overnight, a thousand years of civilization were stripped away. But for one small Florida town, miraculously spared against all the odds, the struggle was only just beginning, as the isolated survivors — men and women of all ages and races — found the courage to come together and confront the harrowing darkness." Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am in the RCN Room #3. All of our book selections are recommended by Book Club members. Someone volunteers to lead the discussion about the book we have chosen for the month. For more information about the Four Seasons Book Club or to get your name added to our mailing list, please contact me at michelesrosen@gmail.com. ~ Micki Rosen FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2024 41 Birding CLUB Book Club Glossy Ibis at San Jacinto Wildlife Area, photo by Gerrie Karczynski Snowy Egrets at San Jacinto Wildlife Area, photo by Gerrie Karczynski Greater Yellow Legs at San Jacinto Wildlife Area, photo by Gerrie Karczynski